Korea Invited to Janadriyah Festival as Guest of Honor

SEOUL, KOREA — The Republic of Korea will be the guest of honor at Saudi Arabia’s 26th Janadriyah National Festival for Heritage and Culture, scheduled to be held from February 8 to 24.

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The Korean Pavilion entrance is adorned with syllables of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul (photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

A diverse spread of Korea’s culture and industry will be on view, with an enriching mix of old and new, from K-pop to traditional culture -- under the direction of Professors Choe Junho and Yoon Jeong Seop of the Korea National University of Arts.

The Korean pavilion will be embellished with cutting-edge technology such as 3D screens revolving around the theme of “water,” which is closely linked to the existence of human beings and life. A holographic “Time-Tunnel” will display a selection of ceramic wares and relics that dates back from the prehistoric age to modern times. Robots developed in Korea will entertain visitors with K-pop dance moves and taekwondo demonstrations.

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A selection of Korea's relics and ceramic wares will be on display at the holographic “Time Tunnel” (photos courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

The “Digital Silkroad” exhibit will focus on the development of diplomatic relations between the two countries through a series of photos and video footage, offering glimpses into the half-century history of bilateral exchanges.

The Visit Korea booth will introduce some of Korea’s most exciting tourism destinations to an Arabic audience in a bid to boost tourism and foster mutual understanding among the peoples of the two nations. An outdoor performance of traditional percussion ensemble will introduce the Korean musical genre of samul nori and add to the cheerful festive atmosphere.

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The Visit Korea booth introduces some of Korea’s most exciting tourism destinations including Gyeongbokgung Palace (left) and the ancient capital city of Gyeongju (right) (photos courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).

Korea and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1973 and have steadily expanded the scope of cooperation in the realms of energy and construction projects involving Korean corporations. Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, the participation of Korea as a guest country in the kingdom’s annual national event is anticipated to strengthen civic and cultural exchanges.

The Janadriyah Festival is the largest heritage and cultural festival in the country, drawing several thousands of Saudi and foreign spectators each year. The annual national event first introduced the guest of honor system in 2008 with a pavilion dedicated to Turkey on the grounds of Janadriyah Village. The heritage event hosted under the auspices of King Abdullah has since invited foreign states France (2009), Russia (2010), and most recently Japan (2011) as guests of honor, followed by Korea this year.

For more information, please visit the official website at: www.janadria.org.sa[8] (Arabic only).